Date Night: A Celebratory Evening in Wine Country at Olive & Vine

During our recent trip to Sonoma Valley Wine Country we were looking forward to dining at Olive & Vine, a hot spot in Glen Ellen, a small hamlet just miles from Sonoma. We had planned a celebratory evening at Olive & Vine for Kathryn’s birthday and our belated 14th Anniversary. I had a feeling this was the perfect place. I knew that Olive & Vine had fantastic reviews, but I had no idea what a memorable evening we had in store for us.

As a lifestyle blogger, I have received some special treatment along the way, bottles of champagne, decadent desserts, fashion items, suites with a view, or even comped stays. It’s all part of the adventure. The specialized treatment we were given by owner, John Burdick and staff, including his beautiful daughter, rivals any unique dining experience I have enjoyed. As we arrived John, owner/sommelier was waiting to take us to the best seat in the house.

I had received a call the day before we left for Sonoma Valley and was asked if we were celebrating anything special for our upcoming dinner reservation. I was pleasantly surprised to see a personalized menu, for Scott and myself, as well as for Kathryn’s birthday. This kind of personal touch is extraordinary and definitely keeps foodies coming back to Olive & Vine for more.

To start our evening off, John had some excellent wine suggestions. We selected a Muscardini Cellars Tesoro (Treasure) Red Blend wine from nearby in Kenwood. Tasting notes on this wine from the winemaker: “….enticing aromas of black fruit, cassis, and fine leather cigar box. Deep flavors of blackberry, black currant and cherry, dusted with dark chocolate, layers of spice”. This award-winning wine was just as promised, “…leaves you wanting more”.

It’s always a pleasure to celebrate with long time friends, Dean and Kathryn.

More dishes from our meal, including chocolate decadence and an aperitif from John.

I have never had the pleasure of having an owner/sommelier ask me to dance, but there is a hilarious first for everything. Obviously we felt like we were dining at the home of our new friends, John and Catherine, during our evening at Olive & Vine.

The cuisine at Olive & Vine is the freshest of farm to table fare. Glen Ellen is located in a rich environment for local organic produce and Chef /Owner Catherine Venturini creates unique dishes reflecting the local bounty. She has worked at many of the finest wine country restaurants, and opened her own catering business in 1999, which she and John have grown into this world-class Olive & Vine fine dining restaurant. The warmth and comfort of the rustic luxe surroundings, along with impeccable service and innovative dishes, make Olive & Vine a new favorite spot for us in Sonoma Valley. Thank you to John and staff for a truly memorable evening. We missed seeing Catherine on this visit but are already looking forward to next time.

11 comments

So fabulous!! I love the dancing picture. It looks like you had a wonderful dinner and evening. The food sounds amazingly decadent! On my list for our next trip north. Perhaps we could meet you and Scott there for an adventure. xoxo Jennifer

Oh my gosh, Heather, this food looks delicious. I’d love to try that Sherry Vinaigrette salad hehe. That is the cutest picture of you dancing with the owner. It looks like this was a fun night for everyone. I really want to visit Sonoma wine country sometime.

Heather, Hi! :) I just sat down with a cup of coffee and saw your sweet comment on my blog. Thank you! I’m still on a bit of a hiatus and tinkering with the new site but if the moon and sun align….. I should be up and running with regular posts soon.

I think we were at this restaurant last time we visited here .. however it’s been so long my memory is foggy. I like the organic produce, the wine and the wonderful ambiance here. Wine makers all have such amazing palates and I enjoy the food-wine pairing experience. We have been exploring the WA wine country ~ it’s up and coming! Some of the wines are spectacular but there is nothing like the CA wine country:) This looks like it was a memorable evening for you two and your photos are spectacular!

I’ve signed up to receive your posts via email as I don’t always check my blog roll. Have a wonderful week Heather! xxleslie

Anita Rivera

Good morning dear and beautiful Heather! I am late due to a snow storm that came in making my commute to work and back home rather tricky! We just settled in last night after dinner and were very cozy! It’s so nice to see your evening of sheer elegance and royal treatment here! You know the finest places and an evening like this would be memorable indeed! YOU LOOK FABULOUS!!!!!! Happy day dear friend! Anita

That snow storm dear Anita, it looked intense! I thought of you when I saw the news this morning. I’m glad you made your way home to a cozy house and husband. I guess this means the seasons really have changed. It’s cool here today but nothing like what you have going on. Stay warm and dry. Thanks for the lovely comments and stopping by. xx

Heather

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